The National tribune., 1887-08-18
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
SMALL COMPOST HEAPS.

OF iOSuS OF the De5t InduuIc III
this way. They gather on the premises forest
leaves. cornstalks, including the roots, weeds,
vines, Ofal from fence corners, muck from
ponds and bitches, occasional sprinklings of
lime through the mass, layers of barnyard
manure. and thus build up oblong squares and
let it remain over Winter. When April arrives
the mass has gone through fermentation and
communion, and presents mound of ferti-
LIKING matter better than q small gold mine
would be to- the proprietor of the farm. But
We want to see these compost heaps in the
garden, and there is no reason why they should
not be there as we'll as upon the farm. There
is rubbish enough in the garden, with the as
sistance Of leaves some mold from the woods,
if attainable; if not, from portions of the
premises where it can be spared; scrapings
from the turnpike; manure from the stable,
and every attainable substance that will decay
through the Winter. A little slRked lime will
be good assistance. A half dozen to a dozen
loads of excellent manure will be manufactured
by the time it is wanted in the Spring, without
incurring scarcely any expense GerDlantolrs
Telegraph.
THE SEASONS CHANGING.
1t is quite evident that the seasons are chang
ing somewhat in this particular: that so far as
relates to farming operations they cannot COM
mence as early and are more heightened out in
| the Fall. As a general rule it was expected
that all hoed crops would receive full attention
and be, so to speak, out of the way before haying
commenced. But in these times it is not an
unusual thing for haying 10 commence after
the first hoeng. and frequently is pressing even
at that time. Even now, with haying at hand
and some pieces cut, we know of cornfelds only
| prepared for hoeing. The reason seems to be
| that work cannot commence at Spring as early
as formerly, and at the same time the growth
of grass remains, in season, about the same time.
This condition of things suggests the advantage
of undertaking, whereby the soil IS fitted for
much earlier working than is the case if left to
the removal of surface water by the mere nat
ural method of surface evapOration.-ErehGnge
COLD STORAGE OF FRUITS.
The employment of refrigerator buildings
for the storage of some Of the more delicate
and perishablo fruits. is likely to work quite q
change in the fruit market and in furnishing
fruits out of the season. 1t is believed that
cold-storage houses will keep fruit perfect one
half year, by which means il can be put upon
| the market out of its season, bringing it under
the class of Injuries, for which a slight addi-
tional charge will more than pay for the houses.
a chief advantage will come from keeping of
| bananas and the citrus fruits, that quickly
perishabe. In Boston alone the trade of bana-
mas amounts to S250.000. and with lengthen-
| ing of the season, this may be considerably in
| creased. If the cold storage could be made
| available in the case of strawberries it would
afford an opening for greatly increased pro-
| duction, and so of other small fruits. The adj
| vance of science aud scientific appliances will
| soon enable consumers to have all kinds of
! products fresh the year round.
SPREAD THE ASHES
la farmers families that use wood for fuel,
| there is a constant accumulation of ashes that
possess a high fertiiiZing value and should be
spread from time 10 time, so as to get the benefit
of their virtues rather than allow them to ac-
cumulate and deteriorate in quantity by being
! stored in the cellar or other places They are
especially valuable for spreading about fruit
trees of all kinds or small fruits, and their use
for this purpose is probably as valuable as any
that they can be put to. Do not waste the
ashes, even if they are coal ashes.
NOTES
Keep the cream in a temperature not
higher than 90 until just before churning, when
il should be raised to 62 or o.
Clean up the places where early peas, po-
| tatoes aud other early crops have been grown,
and set out with late cabbage, little sweet
| corn, a few turnips, or other crop; tending
| these will keep down the weeds, aud thus pre-
| vent them from going 10 seed and causing
deal of trouble the following year. Stake up
| the tomato vines, that they may ripen their
| fruit without getting in the dirt.
| The growth of a calf that is intended for
| raising should be pushed from the time it is
| weaned until year old. Such treatment
not only predisposes the calf to take on flesh,
| lpf Il al he 81
animal will reach maturity. A few nubbins of
corn handful or two OF oats given daily in
| addition 10 their grass is the best possible food
TO hasten their growth. and it is just such a
combination as will form flesh and fat
| Almost every month in the year there is
| something to be done in the orchard, and now
| is the time 10 be looking after the borers. Ex-
anime the trunk Of each tree near the ground
| especially the younger Ones-for any little saw
dust-like clippings aud the hole in the tree,
made by the borer, may be easily found just
above them. Then, after charging the entrance
| little with your penknife, insert wire about
the size of fine knittng-needle. This will
easily follow him to his retreat, and with
slight thrust will put an end to him.
| Never use n check-rein upon horse at
work, it being calculated to worry and injure
the animal more than the work. III a man has
heavy load to draw he lowers his head by
bending forward aud throwing the whole weight
OF MS DOdy against III. 90 uOcS morse, III Nc Is
permitted TODD SO. But if the mans head were
SO tied back that he could not bend forward, he
would lose the advantage of his weight; just so
with the horse. BY taking of or loosening the
check rein on horse at work, you not only in
crease his muscular power, but abandon fash
ion which is both cruel and foolish.
The CdiiStOgidH gives this prescription its
warmest Endorsement: IL you have q horse
that is in the habit Of kicking, put him in
narrow stall that has both sides thickly padded
Suspend sack filled with hay or straw so that
it will strike his heels, and let horse and sack
fight il out Beisure TO have things arranged
SO that the horse cannot hurt himself The
sack will be victorious every time, and in the
end the horse will absolutely refuse to kick
the sack or anything else
Calves can be successfully dehorned with
out much pain 1t should be done rs soon as
the button" or the beginning of the horn is
grown out enough to be plainly felt. The skin
should be cut aroundit, and the knife inserted
underneath, close down TO the skull. If it is
not cut down rs close possible, q little stub of
horn will grow. but If all of the incipient
horn is removed, there will be none. The
wound may be dressed with little warm tar
and patch Of cloth put over it.
The profits in feeding animals are gradu-
ated by age. There Is moro growth in proper
tion TO the food consumed the first year than
! the second more the second than the third !:
more the third than the fourth. When an ami.
NAL gets its growth, profit in feeding ceases
except to fill it up This is limited aud only
takes short time. After this period food only